Legal funds

THE dad of tragic tot Poppi Worthington is seeking legal aid to fund a top legal team at his daughter's inquest – after already receiving £117,000 in public cash.A High Court judge said in January that Paul Worthington, 48, from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, sexually assaulted his 13-month-old daughter shortly before her death in 2012.The 48 year old has now applied for funding for a barrister at the centre of some of the UK's most high profile cases including representing families of Hillsborough victims.The supermarket worker has already received £117,000 to pay for a custody battle over his other children.But he now hopes to secure extra legal aid to fund the services of award-winning London barrister Leslie Thomas QC as well as his solicitor, Paul Clark, during the three-week hearing in October.An application for financial assistance has been made by Mr Worthington - said by a High Court judge to have sexually assaulted 13-month-old Poppi shortly before she … [Read more...] about Dad who judge ruled probably sexually assaulted daughter, 1, before her sudden death wants legal aid to pay for top barrister

Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, called for a constitutional change on Friday in order to prevent the far-right National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) from receiving federal funds. Coming on the back of a failed attempt to have the NPD banned by the Constitutional Court, the Bundesrat presented the bill that would prohibit some legally recognized political parties from receiving state subsidies. As the law stands now, each party receives some money from the government based on their success in regional, federal and European elections. In 2015, the NPD was accordingly given 1.3 million euros ($1.38 million) by Berlin. The NPD has never garnered enough votes to be represented in the German parliament and does not currently have elected officials in any of Germany's 16 state legislatures - though in the past it has played a role in some states' politics. One member of European Parliament is from the NPD. Changing this would mean amending Germany's Basic Law, the … [Read more...] about German parliament seeks to block neo-Nazis from federal funds

If three states get their way, the far-right National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) would lose public funding. Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland are petitioning the federal government in the Bundesrat, Germany's upper house of parliament, for a change to the country's constitution. Meanwhile, Lower Saxony has put forward a draft bill that would "cut off state partial financing to parties that undermine the free, democratic basis or existence of the Federal Republic of Germany." One vote, one euro The legislative maneuvers are a consequence of the Federal Constitutional Court's January ruling against the NPD's banning. It concluded that the NPD was unconstitutional, but not in a position to bring down the state. The NPD is not significant enough, the judges said, urging lawmakers to find "other methods" than an outright ban on constitutional grounds. Cutting off funding would be one such method, according to the three states proposing it. All political parties in Germany, the NPD … [Read more...] about German states aim to cut off public funding to far-right NPD

The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland confirmed on Tuesday that it has opened criminal proceedings against the Lugano-based bank BSI. The probe is linked to the ongoing case involving Malaysia's troubled state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The prosecutor's office suspects deficiences in the internal organisation of the bank. “It is believed that due to these deficiencies, the bank was unable to prevent the commission of offences currently under investigation in the criminal proceedings relating to 1MDB,” it said in a statement. The Swiss statement went on to say: "The information suggests that the offences of money laundering and bribery of foreign public officials currently under investigation in the context of the 1MDB case could have been prevented had BSI SA been adequately organised." 1MDB is at the heart of a growing number of investigations over allegations the development fund was used to funnel money to individuals including … [Read more...] about Criminal case opened against Switzerland’s BSI bank over Malaysian fund

To take effect, the new law overseeing the distribution of funds to NGOs must be endorsed by the Senate and the president, both of which are expected to pass it. A new body, the National Institute for Freedom - Civil Society Development Center, will be attached to the prime minister's office to oversee the allocation of NGO funding in Poland. As reported in the Gazeta Wyborczanewspaper, the body will be supervised by another new body, the Public Affairs Committee, which will be made up of senior officials from several ministries. A minister acting as the committee's chairman will appoint the institute's director. Read more: Poland's government wants to control NGOs Culture Minister Piotr Glinski told reporters on Friday that the new organization "addresses the needs of NGOs, especially smaller, local NGOs, which have not received adequate support to date." Opposition up in arms Opposition parties, meanwhile, have argued that the move is another example of the … [Read more...] about Poland’s right-wing government takes steps to control NGO funding

Rhino poaching numbers in South Africa have increased exponentially over the last decade: In 2004, 10 rhinos were killed, while 2014 set a sad record with more than 1,100 rhinos being poached. With South Africa as the home to around 90 percent of the world's white rhino population, what happens here might decide the future of the species. Now, South Africa is mulling legalizing the trade in rhinoceros horns. The 'war on poaching' Rhinos are poached because of their horn's value: In Asia, many people believe that it cures ailments, from nosebleeds to cancer. Rhino horn on the black market is worth up to $100,000 a kilogram - rivaling the price of gold or cocaine. A rhino horn has a structure similar to human hair or fingernails. Research has proven that the horn has no medicinal effect - but the superstition persists. Conservationists are becoming desperate, as attempts to stop the poaching have failed so far. The South African government has employed both ground forces and … [Read more...] about Could legalizing rhino horn save the species?

Since fleeing to Russia two years ago, the Ukrainian ex-President has gone underground. Viktor Yanukovych's only connection to the outside world is through his lawyers. They have been instructed to have their client's European bank accounts unlocked. In this legal battle, no cost is too little for Yanukovych. Representing him at the European Court of Justice, which is expected to hand down its judgment on Thursday, is the British star-lawyer, Thomas Beazley. In Moscow he is held to be the best man to fight EU sanctions. He has even represented state-run companies, such as the mineral oil company, Rosneft, at the European court of Justice. Yanukovych is able to afford expensive lawyers, because according to EU law, he is able to rely on the funds in his seized bank accounts. According to the Financial Intelligence Unit, which is the central agency for combating money laundering, there are hundreds of millions of US dollars and Swiss franks seized in bank accounts held under the names … [Read more...] about EU is at risk of losing legal battle with Yanukovych

With the fund, VW would pay from $1,000 to $7,000 (880 to 6164 euro) in cash to owners of vehicles affected by the company's use of emissions test cheating software, sources close to the court case between the German carmaker and the US Department of Justice said on Thursday. The sum would depend on the vehicle's age, with the average payout amounting to $5,000. Over 480,000 car owners were affected within the US. The fund would also contribute to action against air pollution, according to Bloomberg news agency, as well as to pay penalties to the US government, a source told news agency AP. The carmaker has been bombarded with legal complaints in the aftermath of the Dieselgate scandal in the US, where environmental regulators revealed last September that "defeat devices" were installed in VW diesel vehicles to cheat emissions tests. The US Department of Justice later opened a case against VW, demanding a plan for the carmaker to atone for its damages to US consumers and the … [Read more...] about VW sets up $10 billion US Dieselgate fund

Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday launched its legal bid over the power to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would formally start the Brexit process. Court president David Neuberger began the proceedings with a warning about the threats and abuse aimed at those involved in the case. He said the 11 presiding judges would rule without any political bias. The case has been brought by multiple plaintiffs, but is led by investment fund manager Gina Miller. Their argument is that the triggering Article 50 would strip British citizens of certain rights established under European law. The complainants say only parliament has the power to do this. 'A matter of prerogative' Meanwhile, the government's main legal adviser, Attorney General Jeremy Wright, outlined the opposing case. The necessity to consult parliament would, in the eyes of many analysts, dilute the hopes of many pro-Brexiteers that there might be a speedy "Hard Brexit," because parliament would be in … [Read more...] about UK Supreme Court hears government’s Brexit legal challenge

The chief executive of the fund's manager Norges Bank Investment Management, Peter Johnsen, told the "Financial Times" on Sunday that as an investor, it was their "responsibility to safeguard the fund's holding in Volkswagen." "We have been advised by our lawyers that the company's conduct gives rise to legal claims under German law," Johnsen said. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, which holds shares in approximately 9,000 companies worldwide, already announced in October that it had suffered losses due to the fall in Volkswagen shares. 'Dieselgate' Volkswagen sparked the global Dieselgate scandal last year following revelations that illegal software had been installed on 11 million diesel engines to cheat emissions tests. Measures to replace the faulty hardware, as well as a slew of lawsuits from angry car owners and shareholders seeking damages, are set to cost the firm billions. Volkswagen has set aside 16.2 billion euros ($19 billion) in provisions to cover the costs, … [Read more...] about Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to sue Volkswagen